Willie Nelson

† — In addition to topping the country chart, Always On My Mind also reached #2 on the Billboard's Top Pop Album chart, which is quite an accomplishment for a country album. In common with many in his industry, he also bears the mantle of "actor-rapper"; he has appeared as a parody of a drug dealer in Made, he played the role of Walter Lee Younger in the 2004 Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun, and starred with Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton in the film Monster's Ball. Nelson has released dozens of albums under a number of different labels; these are some of his most notable accomplishments. Bolded albums reached #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. He also owns the restaurant chain Justin's (named after his son). Its soundboard has been signed over the years by over a hundred of Nelson's friends and associates, from fellow musicians to lawyers and football coaches. However, his clothes line also brought him criticism when it was revealed that its Honduras-based factories violated Honduran labor laws . Constant strumming over the decades has worn a large sweeping hole into the guitar's body near the sound hole. His urban clothing line, Sean John has been nominated for the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Award for Menswear Designer of the Year, every year since 2000.

Nelson's principal guitar is a Martin acoustic, which he has named "Trigger", after Roy Rogers' horse. In the year 2002, he featured at #12 on Fortune magazine's "40 Richest People Under 40" list. They tour North America in their bus, the "Honeysuckle Rose II". Diddy is one of the most entrepreneurial musicians in the industry. Nelson's touring and recording group is a collection of a number of long-standing members, including his sister Bobbie Nelson, longtime drummer Paul English, Bee Spears, and Jody Payne. P. It won an award for "Best Video" at the Academy of Country Music Awards held on May 26, 2004. He appeared on the March 10, 2004 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss the marathon.

This song was released as a single in 2003 and Nelson shot a video with Keith in 2003. Diddy ran the New York marathon and raised $2,000,000 for the educational system for the children of New York. Willie Nelson performed a duet on "Beer for my Horses" with Toby Keith on Keith's Unleashed album released in 2002. In 2003, P. An attached note read "Stand your ground.". The six finalists have to come up with their name, CD and video. During the 2003 Texas Congressional Redistricting Controversy, Nelson made the news by sending a case of whiskey to the Democrats of the Texas Legislature in self-imposed exile in Ardmore, Oklahoma. In it, contestants compete to be in a new group on Bad Boy Records.

He has been featured in recent advertisements for a variety of products and companies, including The Gap. Later in 2002, he made his own reality show on MTV called Making the Band 2, the sequel to the first Making the Band. His image is marked by his red hair, often braided into two ponytails and partially concealed under a bandana. As a result, Bad Boy Records was formed as an independent record company. His distinctive music sometimes takes a backseat to his public image, that of a marijuana smoking old hippie troubadour. Diddy filed a restraining order to keep them aboard. Willie Nelson is widely recognized as an American icon. Faith Evans left the label, and 112 almost did, though P.

The fuel is made from vegetable oils, mainly soybeans, and can be burned without modification to diesel engines [1] (http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,66288,00.html). This was followed by a serious set-back for Bad Boy Records when Arista Records stopped distributing Bad Boy releases. Nelson and three business partners recently (2005) formed a company called Willie Nelson's Biodiesel that is marketing biofuel to truck stops. A collaboration with David Bowie appeared on the soundtrack to Training Day, while Puffy began working with Britney Spears and *N Sync. In 2004, he released Outlaws & Angels, featuring guests Toby Keith, Joe Walsh, Merle Haggard, Kid Rock, Al Green, Shelby Lynne, Carole King, Toots Hibbert, Ben Harper, Lee Ann Womack, The Holmes Brothers, Los Lonely Boys, Lucinda Williams, Keith Richards and Rickie Lee Jones. After yet more legal problems stemming from an accusation of reckless driving by the Miami police, Puffy began working with a series of unusual (for him) artists. A star-studded television special celebrating his 70th birthday aired in 2003. Diddy released a much-delayed gospel album, Thank You, as well as a solo hip hop LP, The Saga Continues.

Nelson received Kennedy Center Honors in 1998. In spite of continuing legal problems, P. During the 1990s and 2000s, Nelson has toured continuously and released albums that generally received mixed reviews, with the exception of 1998's critically acclaimed Teatro. Diddy tried to reinvent his image, but was once again in court facing assault charges from a Michigan television host, and then was arrested for driving on a suspended license in Florida. He released Across the Borderline in 1993, with guests Bob Dylan, Sinéad O'Connor, David Crosby, Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson and Paul Simon. P. His debts were paid by 1993. Diddy".

Many of his assets were auctioned and purchased by friends, who gave his possessions back to him or rented them at a nominal fee. With the media circus over, Puffy changed his stage name to "P. He released The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories? as a double album, with all profits going straight to the IRS. Puffy was soon acquitted of all charges relating to the shooting incident, followed almost immediately by a break-up with Lopez. In 1990, the IRS gave Nelson a bill for $16.7 million in back taxes and took away most of his assets to help pay the charges. Puffy then launched his own lawsuit against a writer who did not follow through on an alleged agreement to help write his autobiography. He also became known for his financial excesses, including a private jet, his own small town, a palatial estate, and a private golf course. A talent agency then sued Puffy for unfair competition, as did a woman who rented an apartment owned by Puffy; she claimed he refused to rid the house of vermin.

He became more and more involved in charity work, such as establishing the Farm Aid concerts in 1985. Cochran Jr. In spite of their unexpectedly massive successes, including platinum record sales and worldwide touring, Nelson's popularity declined dramatically. His attorney was Johnnie L. In the mid 1980s, Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash formed a group called The Highwaymen. With a gag order in place, the highly-publicized trial began. There were also more popular albums, including Pancho and Lefty (1982, with Merle Haggard), WWII (1982, with Waylon Jennings) and Take it to the Limit (1983, with Waylon Jennings). His driver and the club owner also sued before the shooting charges even made it to trial.

The eighties saw a series of hit singles: "Always on my Mind" (originally made popular by Elvis Presley), "On The Road Again" from the movie Honeysuckle Rose, and "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" (a duet with Julio Iglesias). One was from a girl who claimed to have been mentally scarred at a party ten years before, and another was for sampling a phone conversation without permission. He has continued acting since his early successes, but usually in smaller roles and cameos, a good example being Half Baked. Before the trial was over, Puffy found himself in court on numerous civil charges. Nelson began acting, appearing in The Electric Horseman (1979), Honeysuckle Rose (1980), Red-Headed Stranger (1986, with Morgan Fairchild), and the 1986 TV movie Stagecoach (with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson). With bribery charges added to the bill, Puffy was being attacked in the tabloids on a near daily basis. Though most observers predicted that Stardust would ruin his career, it ended up being one of his most successful LPs. Puffy was indicted after a huge blow to his case; his driver claimed that Puffy had tried to bribe him into taking the weapon after the shooting.

Jones. After a police investigation, Puffy and fellow rapper Shyne were arrested for weapons violations and other charges. In 1978, Nelson released two more platinum albums, Waylon and Willie (a collaboration with Jennings that included one of Nelson's signature songs, "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys") and Stardust, an unusual, string-based album of pop songs produced by Booker T. In December 1999, Puffy and his then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, were at Club New York, a midtown Manhattan nightclub, when gunfire broke out. Nelson continued to top the charts with hit songs during the late 1970s, including "Good Hearted Woman" (a duet with Jennings), "Remember Me", "If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time", "Uncloudy Day", "I Love You a Thousand Ways" and "Something to Brag About" (a duet with Mary Kay Place). This was followed by a yet more negative publicity as The Lox left Bad Boy Records, and a recording session with Lil' Kim and Lil' Cease was interrupted by gunfire. The term was coined by a country music journalist, and cemented with the release of Wanted: The Outlaws! (1976 with Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser), country music's first platinum album. Stoute's refusal led to an argument and Puffy's arrest for assault.

Along with Nelson, Waylon Jennings was also achieving massive success in country music in the early 1970s, and the pair were soon combined into a genre called outlaw country ("outlaw" because it did not conform to Nashville standards). Though Puffy had willingly filmed the video earlier that year, he demanded that the images be removed. The result was the critically acclaimed, massively popular concept album, Red Headed Stranger (1975). Though Columbia was reluctant to release an album with mostly just a guitar and piano for accompaniment, Nelson (with the assistance of Waylon Jennings) insisted and the album was a huge hit, partially because it included a popular cover of "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" (Roy Acuff). Stoute was the manager for Nas, whose video for "Hate Me Now" featured Puffy being crucified. Nelson then moved to Columbia Records, where he was given complete creative control over his work. On April 15, 1999, Puffy was accused of assaulting Steve Stoute of Interscope Records. Phases and Stages (1974), a concept album inspired by his divorce, included two hit singles, "Bloody Mary Morning" and "After the Fire is Gone". Puffy's follow-up was 1999's failed Forever, which was a commercial failure and no more well-reviewed than No Way Out.

Signing with Atlantic Records, Nelson released Shotgun Willie (1973), which won excellent reviews but did not sell well. "I'll Be Missing You" won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, while No Way Out won Best Rap Album. A lifelong passion for running and a new commitment to his own health also began during this period. The song's video starred many celebrities, such as Wyclef Jean, Quincy Jones, and Puff Daddy's future love interest, Jennifer Lopez. His popularity in Austin soared, as he played his own brand of country music marked by rock and roll, jazz, western swing, and folk influences. and had a popular rock remix, which was worked on by Rob Zombie and the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, among others; and "Been Around The World," a song that featured Puffy's labelmate, Mase, and the late Notorious B.I.G., and was probably best remembered for having sampled David Bowie's "Let's Dance" and Lisa Stansfield's "All Around The World". While in Austin, with its burgeoning hippie music scene (see Armadillo World Headquarters), Nelson decided to return to music. The album also produced the hit singles "It's All About The Benjamins," which featured Lil Kim, The Lox and The Notorious B.I.G.

In 1965, Nelson moved to RCA Records and joined the Grand Ole Opry, followed by a series of minor hits. Frustrated with the music business which tried to force him into a mold, Nelson retired and moved to Austin, Texas. Both singles were successful, though "I'll Be Missing You" (a tribute to Biggie with guests Faith Evans and 112) was heavily criticized for sampling The Police's "Every Breath You Take" and adding little. Puff Daddy, plus various labelmates known as the Family, released No Way Out, an LP, in 1998. His alcoholism, failed day jobs, and penchant for carrying guns got him in trouble with the law and his wife a number of times. Puff Daddy began his own career in 1997, releasing "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", followed by "I'll Be Missing You". His personal life during this period was also colorful, to say the least. Biggie's second album, Life After Death, was a huge posthumous success. Demo recordings from his years as a songwriter for Pamper Music were later discovered and released as Crazy: The Demo Sessions (2003). Both cases remain unsolved.

He was unable to keep his momentum going, though, and Nelson's career ground to a halt. was also murdered. Nelson signed with Liberty Records in 1961 and released several singles, including the hits "Willingly" (with his wife, Shirley Collie) and "Touch Me". Six months later, in March of 1997, the Notorious B.I.G. "Funny How Time Slips Away" (Billy Walker), "Hello Walls" (Faron Young), "Pretty Paper" (Roy Orbison) and, most famously, "Crazy" (Patsy Cline) became popular songs in the 1960s. Shakur was murdered by unknown persons in 1996. While playing with Ray Price & the Cherokee Cowboys, many of Nelson's songs became hits. were allied against Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight, trading insults in songs and interviews during the mid 1990s.

After Ray Price recorded Nelson's "Night Life" (reputedly the most covered country song of all time), Nelson joined Price's touring band as a bassist. Puffy and Notorious B.I.G. He did, however, receive a publishing contract at Pamper Music. Mase and The Lox soon joined Bad Boy, just as a widely publicized rivalry with the West Coast's Death Row Records. Nelson moved to Nashville, Tennessee but was unable to land a record label contract. Puff Daddy, as he was then known, began signing more acts to Bad Boy, including Faith Evans, 112 and Total, as well as producing for Lil' Kim, TLC, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, SWV, Aretha Franklin and others. Nelson continued to DJ and sing in clubs, and sold a song called "Family Bible" for fifty dollars; the song was a hit for Claude Gray in 1960, has been covered widely, and is often considered a gospel music classic. Both Mack and Biggie quickly released hit singles, followed by similarly successful LPs, particularly B.I.G.'s Ready to Die.

The single sold respectably but did not establish a career. Combs set up his own label, Bad Boy Records, and soon signed Craig Mack and the Notorious B.I.G.. In 1956, Nelson moved to Vancouver, Washington to begin a musical career by recording "Lumberjack" by Leon Payne. Blige; 1992), Blue Funk (Heavy D & the Boyz; 1992) before being fired in 1993. Eventually, he became a DJ at a country radio station in Fort Worth, Texas, while singing locally in honky tonk bars. Only a few months later, Combs was an A&R executive, and helped produce Father's Day (Father MC; 1990), What's the 411? (Mary J. After graduation, Nelson joined the Air Force, but left due to back problems. before becoming an intern at Uptown Records.

She met Bud Fletcher, a fiddler, and both siblings joined his band while Willie was in high school. Originally from Harlem, New York City, then living in a middle class suburb, Combs began attending Howard University in Washington, D.C. Willie played the guitar, while Bobbie played the piano. Diddy's own music career, and to a lesser extent, his production, has been criticized as watered-down and overly commercialized for a mainstream market, as well as an over-reliance on obvious and lengthy sampling for most of his hit songs. Some days, while Ross and others picked cotton in the fields, Willie would find a tree and sleep under it. P. Ross and Willie also played on the football and basketball teams. Blige, Jodeci, Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, 112 and Craig Mack.

He lived next door to his best friend, Ross Cleveland, who was an ace left-handed pitcher for the Abbott High Panthers. Diddy first skyrocketed to fame, signing Father MC, Mary J. Nelson and his sister, Bobbie, were raised by their grandparents after their father died and their mother ran away. P. He reached his greatest fame during the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, though he had already become famous as a 1960s songwriter. He is the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, one of the driving forces in hip hop in the mid to late 1990s. Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American guitarist and country singer, originally from Abbott, Texas. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean "Puffy" Combs) is an African-American record producer, CEO, and rapper.

The Facts of Life and Other Dirty Jokes (2002) ISBN 0-375-50731-0. Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969 aka P. Willie: An Autobiography (1988), with Bud Shrake, ISBN 0-815-41080-8. Wag the Dog (1997 cameo). Stagecoach (1986).